But finishing up, this is just stuff i noticed from watching the games. I now look forward to reading the thread, getting a 12 pack and watching the game tonight

pretty much a good, non-biased, calm post that reflects my feelings too, and exactly how i am approaching this Islanders game.It's Xmas eve morning here, and I have a few beers to warm me up at 11am for game time, then moving on to my good friend Jack Daniels depending on how bad we get, but it is a Xmas eve tradition for me the past several years since the Devils have played on the 23rd (USA) time, makes for a good time leading up to Xmas Eve

I will be tipping to the boys today in hopes our holiday season can be a smiling one - a small step at a time, winning todays game

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"Music is my mistress, and she plays second fiddle to none." "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

as i've said since the talk of 1st overall picks and tanking has come up, it's just not a good idea. it's a fine idea for a franchise in total rebuild, but that is not this franchise. we have 4 guys in their prime who have shown themselves to be pretty darn good hockey players (parise, zajac, kovalchuk, volchenkov). by the time we'd come out of the 'tank', parise and zajac might both be gone.

There isn't much value in the top 2 picks in this draft anyway. This isn't a draft with franchise players at the top. The 1st and 2nd picks likely won't be worth the close to $4M cap hit on their ELCs. IMO getting a Saad, Murphy, Strome, Armia, Hamilton or Siemens somewhere between 5 and 8 will be just as good as picking first or second overall. I think 5 years from now, the difference between these players will be negligible and the best player may very well end up not being Couturier or Larsson.

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"I won't put big money into defenders, guys who only defend. There are guys out there who make millions of dollars that strictly defend. We don't believe doing that gives you bang for your buck."
- Ken Holland

Lemaire walks into a dressing room that has suffered from frustration and underachievement, and faces issues with particular players that will pose a challenge. To wit:

* LEADERSHIP: Jamie Langenbrunner is captain, but upset Lemaire in the home stretch last season by beefing about being left home while injured. While some may have minimized the issue, the Devils never were the same team after that. Since opening night, the Devils have lacked pizzazz and jump; the spirit has been missing, badly. The captain is part of that problem.

*GOALTENDING: Martin Brodeur has played well but a notch below his normal high standard. Whether that's a function of a weaker defense -- the Devils have endured injuries to key backliners such as Bryce Salvador -- or an aging ace is something Lemaire will have to discern. He has a solid back-up handy in Johan (Moose) Hedberg.

* DEFENSE: Almost from the start, the backline has been a shambles. Andy Greene, a star under Lemaire, has failed miserably under MacLean. New acquisitions this season -- Henrik Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov -- have not lived up to their notices. Moving the puck out of the Devs zone and into offensive play has been one of the club's weakest points.

There isn't much value in the top 2 picks in this draft anyway. This isn't a draft with franchise players at the top. The 1st and 2nd picks likely won't be worth the close to $4M cap hit on their ELCs. IMO getting a Saad, Murphy, Strome, Armia, Hamilton or Siemens somewhere between 5 and 8 will be just as good as picking first or second overall. I think 5 years from now, the difference between these players will be negligible and the best player may very well end up not being Couturier or Larsson.

i am thoroughly unimpressed with larsson statistically. couturier isn't blowing any doors off. whoever the devils end up with, he should almost certainly stay in whatever league he's in next year. and i know you know that the bonus cushion is off next year.

On December 21, 1976, the Blackhawks gave Billy Reay the hook and inserted Bill White behind the Chicago bench. The story has it that the Hawks management did not tell Reay directly that he was fired; a note was pushed under his hotel door with the dreadful news.

first off, i got a message from a good friend in montreal around 830 telling me Lemaire was heading to Jersey, by 9, HNIC writers picked up on it, i texted another friend, TG then tweeted about the players only meeting, i almost freaked cause i had bested Єklund (2.3% accurate) and then got a response from taunting him a little bit.

also, i hate to be the only delusional optimist here, but i honestly think this is a christmas miracle and we;re going to make the playoffs, even if its sneaking in, philly style, we're going to make it...

no i also think we can make the playoffs now because teams are not as good as usual and 88 might not be the floor for 8th spot. we have a decent shot at phillying in.

As of right now, it's going to take 96 points to get the 8th seed.

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"I won't put big money into defenders, guys who only defend. There are guys out there who make millions of dollars that strictly defend. We don't believe doing that gives you bang for your buck."
- Ken Holland

I'm officially embarrassed to be a Devils' fan. Absolutely embarrassed.

Lemaire? Hah. Whoever said it is right. Vanderbeek said to Lou "This is your fvcking mess. I wanted XYZ, you wanted MacLean. You clean it up."

Lou needs step down or Vanderbeek needs to step him down. I never thought I'd be saying this, but it's time. This organization has gone so far off the rails since the lockout that I no longer even know what I'm watching and what I'm rooting for.

Lou should have fired himself during that pathetic press conference.

WHERE ARE THE TRADES AND CUTS OF THESE LOSERS WEARING RED? Langenbrunner should have been dealt in the off-season for his bitchfest last year. I've never seen a bigger pansy in a hockey uniform, outside Sean Avery.

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I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in the rain.

Like I suddenly forgot how soft this team was and how they gave up on JL. What makes management think he's going motivate them this time around?

Here comes the line shuffling, even if they're working. There goes Tedenby's progress too....Bergfors part deux. Fvck Lemaire

Are you serious? Bergfors was just not very good at anything other than scoring. He didn't backcheck or play defense at all and he refused to get into the dirty areas and risk being hit or hit someone himself.

Tedenby seems to be a far more well rounded player and is much more adept on defense than Bergfors was. As mentioned by many other, Bergfors is in the doghouse in Atlanta as well for problems he has with the coach. Sounds like this is an issue with Bergfors that he had here and that's why he was gotten rid of.